E152: The Peter Thiel Mistake This Crypto VC Won't Make

In this episode of How I Invest, Evan Fisher, Founder of Portal Ventures, shares his expertise in fundraising, venture capital, and deal flow. He discusses the key elements of successful fundraising, how to craft a compelling pitch, and what investors look for when evaluating opportunities. Evan’s insights provide valuable lessons for both founders seeking capital and investors looking for high-quality deals. Highlights: Fundraising Strategies: How founders can secure funding more effectively. Pitch Deck Secrets: What makes a pitch deck stand out to investors. Venture Capital Insights: How investors analyze deal flow and make investment decisions. Emerging Investment Trends: The future of startup fundraising. Building Relationships: The role of trust and networking in venture capital. -- Guest Bio: Evan Fisher is the Founder of Portal Ventures, a firm specializing in helping startups secure funding through strategic advisory and pitch deck optimization. With a background in investment banking and venture capital, Evan has helped companies across various industries raise significant capital. His deep understanding of investor psychology and storytelling makes him a sought-after advisor for high-growth startups. Our Podcast now receives more than 300,000 downloads a month. Are you interested in sponsoring an episode? Please email David Weisburd at dweisburd@gmail.com . We’d like to thank @Carta, @OldCityInvestmentPartners and @Republic for sponsoring this episode! #VentureCapital #VC #Startups #OpenLP #AssetManagement Sponsor: Republic is the leading global investment platform making premier private market opportunities accessible to all investors. With over $3 billion deployed across its network of investment platforms, funds, and affiliated firms, Republic opens the door to new asset classes typically reserved for institutional investors such as—private equity, venture capital, and even sports teams and your favorite film producers. All securities, including the Hamilton Lane’s Private Infrastructure Fund, are offered through affiliate Republic Broker-Dealer, OpenDeal Broker LLC Member FINRA & SiPC. All securities come with specific risks not limited to a total loss of your investment. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Please review the risks specific to this investment on the HLPIF deal page hosted on www.republic.com/hlpif . Sponsor: At Carta, we’re on a mission to connect the participants in private capital — from investors and LPs to their portfolio companies — through a suite of financial intelligence and reporting software that’s purpose-built for venture capital and private equity. Since 2018, we’ve been empowering GPs, CFOs, and CEOs to escape obsolete systems of disconnected FP&A tools — all in favor of a single, unified software suite that helps them make impactful strategic decisions and deliver outstanding results for their investors. Learn more at: www.carta.com/howiinvest . Sponsor: Alpha on the Delta is a captivating, invitation-only alternative investment conference held during New Orleans' legendary JazzFest. Now in its third year, it brings together 150 institutional LPs, 30 leading GPs, and visionary entrepreneurs for a dynamic experience of knowledge sharing, relationship building, and cultural celebration. The carefully curated agenda features engaging panel discussions with industry leaders, facilitated 1:1 meetings, and exciting social events showcasing the vibrant spirit of New Orleans. Attendees also enjoy access to Weekend 2 of JazzFest, offering an unforgettable blend of world-class music, cuisine, and connections. With limited attendance, Alpha on the Delta fosters meaningful relationships and transformative insights in an unparalleled setting. Join us for a packed agenda spanning the Alternative Investment industry, music, and world-class cuisine. Visit http://HowIInvestDelta.com . -- Stay Connected: X / Twitter: David Weisburd: @dweisburd Evan Fisher: @evanbfish LinkedIn: David Weisburd: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dweisburd/ Evan Fisher: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanfisher1/ Links: Portal Ventures: https://portal.vc/ -- Questions or topics you want us to discuss on How I Invest? Email us at dweisburd@gmail.com . (0:00) Episode preview (1:24) Crypto's new asset classes and first-check advantages (3:52) Reinventing in the fast-evolving crypto industry (8:07) Developing thematic bets and the Bitcoin economy thesis (14:00) Market size evaluation and strategic partnerships (15:51) Post-investment founder support and proprietary deals (18:19) Co-investing risks and analyzing investment failures (19:52) MEV space exploration and decentralized science (DeSci) (24:42) Comparing crypto and biotech investing strategies (26:29) Early investment signals and partner dynamics (31:21) Long-term crypto survival strategies (35:04) LP interest in crypto and its liquidity profile (37:19) Bitcoin's continued dominance and future trends (41:09) Closing remarks